Autumn has already passed, now the cold returns…
—The autumn of her sorrowful smile. Bitter winter! The sun is slanted. Freezing.
—The sun and the clear waters of the river.
Clear river waters! Waters of the river.
Fleeing beneath my weary gaze.
Where do you lead me, my idle sorrow?
Where are you going, my empty heart?
Remain here, her hair floating,
And beneath the swift-flowing waters,
Her eyes open and pondering...
Where are you running off to, melancholies?
—And, shimmering, flowing in waves
Her hands translucent and cold...
Camilo Pessanha
Calligraphy by Fernando António
Macau, 22-1-2026.
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Editor’s note: This calligraphy of a poem by local Portuguese poet Camilo Pessanha (1867–1926) has been presented by renowned Macau calligrapher Fernando António to The Macau Post Daily, where it is displayed in our office for all our visitors to admire. We would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude for the present. Coimbra-born Pessanha lived and worked as a judge, teacher and poet in Macau between 1894 and his death.
